Julian Assange, whose current location is unclear, is the mastermind behind the leaking of confidential documents via the website WikiLeaks.

Today Christine Assange told the ABC she was "as any mother would be very distressed" by the warrant for her son's arrest and his wellbeing.

"He's my son and I love him and obviously I don't want him hunted down and jailed.

"I'm reacting as any mother would - I'm distressed," says Christine.

Mrs Assange says she's concerned for her son's welfare and doesn't want him "hunted down and jailed".

Media reports claimed Assange's mother had moved to the Sunshine Coast to escape the media in her former hometown of Melbourne, but Christine Assange denied moving to Noosa for that reason.

"A lot of stuff that's written about me and Julian is untrue."

Mrs Assange currently runs a puppet theatre in Noosa.

Global police agency Interpol has alerted member states to arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on suspicion of rape on the basis of a Swedish arrest warrant.

"There is a public 'Red Notice' on behalf of Sweden," an Interpol spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman confirmed Interpol had posted Sweden's request for assistance in tracking down the 39-year-old Australian on its website.

Sweden's International Public Prosecution Office in Gothenburg issued an arrest warrant for the secretive activist on November 18, citing "probable cause of suspected rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion".

Assange, whose current location is unclear, contested the warrant in a Swedish appeals court, but his first bid to get it thrown out was rejected last week and he has lodged a second appeal.

In the meantime, he could now face arrest and extradition to Sweden from anywhere in the world where local authorities decide to act on the warrant.